Latest news with #Nirvana
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bablu's Phuchka Model: Global supply chain, local love story
With my fondness for Nirvana, German Expressionism, and Guinness, it may come as a surprise that I'm a vocalist for local. There's a certain kind of happiness I feel when I buy chicken, go out to have phuchka , get a haircut, or buy medicine from my course, the chicken is probably of distant (read: non-neighbourhood) provenance. The barber uses tools, creams, and lotions made in different parts of India (the fan in his saloon is China-made). Barring the potatoes and chillies in Bablu's perfect phuchka cocktail being locally sourced (our area is urban-agricultural), the atta, tamarind and everything else are most likely from 'outside'. And my stash of Met XL50 that I get from the local med store is manufactured in Guwahati by a company headquartered in Kandivili each contribution of dosh to my immediate 'desh' - my locals for whom I harbour a disproportionate amount of material and metaphysical loyalty - is part of a larger, great chain of economic being. Of course, it would have been grand if my neighbourhood manufactured printers, made EV batteries, had bookstores that I would gladly have I'm not a postcolonial nutter who thinks manufacturing GPUs is one hop away from spinning khadi. Truth be told, my Swadeshi Lite is firmly based on availability, ease of procuring, and quality, with the hope to see my neighbourhood grow more prosperous by the main difference - heck, the only difference - between Trump's call for a swadeshi andolan and Modi's shout-out to Make India Great Again is in their nuance. The former, French farmers' union style, doesn't want anything that is consumed by the American people to be produced outside America. The latter, Bapu-style, doesn't want the Indian people to consume anything that is produced outside India. It's a subtle difference, but a telling both versions - 'make what you consume' vs 'consume (only) what you make' - the real intention is to see that the Country-That-Must-Not-Be-Named is denied two of its biggest markets. If all goes well, the Country-That-Must-Not-Be-Named will shrivel to the size of an economic shih tzu, while America returns to its rightful place in the comity of nations that it had in the 1950s-1960s, and India goes back to its own hallowed position from which it was displaced before the very moment Babur crossed the Chenab in a self-sustaining economy should not be a problem for a country that makes everything it uses. For a country that doesn't have much use for jet skis, like, say, landlocked Vatican City, not having a homegrown jet ski-manufacturing industry isn't a problem. Unless, for some sentimental reason, the new pope decides to start exporting jet skis to Peru and/or problem is that the Country-That-Must-Not-Be-Named has, over the years, infiltrated their merchandise everywhere in almost everything. And we're not just talking about Ganesh idols that Kiren Rijiju may have bought online by mistake. We're talking about also infiltrating things that go into making things that make all this gung-ho hungama about ' Make in India ', everyone is thinking only quantitatively. This may be understandable for a country that takes (perverse) pride in having more people than any other country - 'Kya hai tumhare paas? 'Mere paas demographic dividend hai!' But quality has a quantity of its own that goes beyond shifting units Soviet Union ball a reason why after the swadeshi movement did what it had set out to do, we didn't quite become a nation of charkha spinners. Tagore was bang on in his 1925 essay, 'The Cult of the Charkha': 'I am afraid of a blind faith on a very large scale in the charkha in the country, which is so liable to succumb to the lure of short-cuts when pointed out by a personality about whose moral earnestness they can have no doubt.'Instead, we invested in the tech descendants of the spinning jenny, despite its Lancashire 'satanic mills' origins. If we do get seriously vocal for local - and I think it's a splendid idea - we mustn't fall for any cult. Instead, invest monetarily and imaginatively in making things that will make us want to buy if Bablu's phuchkas were Chinese, you think people wouldn't have lined up to gobble them? They're just 'world-class', you see.
Economic Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Bablu's Phuchka Model: Global supply chain, local love story
With my fondness for Nirvana, German Expressionism, and Guinness, it may come as a surprise that I'm a vocalist for local. There's a certain kind of happiness I feel when I buy chicken, go out to have phuchka, get a haircut, or buy medicine from my neighbourhood. Of course, the chicken is probably of distant (read: non-neighbourhood) provenance. The barber uses tools, creams, and lotions made in different parts of India (the fan in his saloon is China-made). Barring the potatoes and chillies in Bablu's perfect phuchka cocktail being locally sourced (our area is urban-agricultural), the atta, tamarind and everything else are most likely from 'outside'. And my stash of Met XL50 that I get from the local med store is manufactured in Guwahati by a company headquartered in Kandivili West. So, each contribution of dosh to my immediate 'desh' - my locals for whom I harbour a disproportionate amount of material and metaphysical loyalty - is part of a larger, great chain of economic being. Of course, it would have been grand if my neighbourhood manufactured printers, made EV batteries, had bookstores that I would gladly have visited... But I'm not a postcolonial nutter who thinks manufacturing GPUs is one hop away from spinning khadi. Truth be told, my Swadeshi Lite is firmly based on availability, ease of procuring, and quality, with the hope to see my neighbourhood grow more prosperous by the day. The main difference - heck, the only difference - between Trump's call for a swadeshi andolan and Modi's shout-out to Make India Great Again is in their nuance. The former, French farmers' union style, doesn't want anything that is consumed by the American people to be produced outside America. The latter, Bapu-style, doesn't want the Indian people to consume anything that is produced outside India. It's a subtle difference, but a telling one. In both versions - 'make what you consume' vs 'consume (only) what you make' - the real intention is to see that the Country-That-Must-Not-Be-Named is denied two of its biggest markets. If all goes well, the Country-That-Must-Not-Be-Named will shrivel to the size of an economic shih tzu, while America returns to its rightful place in the comity of nations that it had in the 1950s-1960s, and India goes back to its own hallowed position from which it was displaced before the very moment Babur crossed the Chenab in 1519. Being a self-sustaining economy should not be a problem for a country that makes everything it uses. For a country that doesn't have much use for jet skis, like, say, landlocked Vatican City, not having a homegrown jet ski-manufacturing industry isn't a problem. Unless, for some sentimental reason, the new pope decides to start exporting jet skis to Peru and/or America. The problem is that the Country-That-Must-Not-Be-Named has, over the years, infiltrated their merchandise everywhere in almost everything. And we're not just talking about Ganesh idols that Kiren Rijiju may have bought online by mistake. We're talking about also infiltrating things that go into making things that make things. In all this gung-ho hungama about 'Make in India', everyone is thinking only quantitatively. This may be understandable for a country that takes (perverse) pride in having more people than any other country - 'Kya hai tumhare paas? 'Mere paas demographic dividend hai!' But quality has a quantity of its own that goes beyond shifting units Soviet Union ball bearing-style. There's a reason why after the swadeshi movement did what it had set out to do, we didn't quite become a nation of charkha spinners. Tagore was bang on in his 1925 essay, 'The Cult of the Charkha': 'I am afraid of a blind faith on a very large scale in the charkha in the country, which is so liable to succumb to the lure of short-cuts when pointed out by a personality about whose moral earnestness they can have no doubt.' Instead, we invested in the tech descendants of the spinning jenny, despite its Lancashire 'satanic mills' origins. If we do get seriously vocal for local - and I think it's a splendid idea - we mustn't fall for any cult. Instead, invest monetarily and imaginatively in making things that will make us want to buy them. Frankly, if Bablu's phuchkas were Chinese, you think people wouldn't have lined up to gobble them? They're just 'world-class', you see. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. What's slowing Indian IT's AI deals? The answer is hidden in just two words. 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CBC
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Superfans gather to hear resurfaced tape of Nirvana's now-famed Calgary concert
Social Sharing Stacy Krisa was only a year old when Nirvana played Calgary's Westward Club 34 years ago, but on Thursday, she got to experience the next best thing: a listening party for a resurfaced bootleg tape from the now-famed show. "This is the best night of my life," she said, overcome with emotion. "Like actually, I'm not even kidding. I might cry because I love Nirvana so much. "Honestly, tonight felt like I was at an actual Nirvana concert." The tape, played at Calgary's Ship & Anchor pub, was recently uncovered by Nirvana super fan Mike Jenkins, first reported by CBC News. Jenkins found the tape at a Calgary collectors' show and learned it was a copy of the original. That tape was recorded on March 4, 1991, by Jason (Jay) Pay on his father's Dictaphone "I kind of stood at the back of the room and just watched everyone enjoy it, and I really didn't expect everyone to enjoy a bootleg so much," Jenkins said. He played a big part in organizing the event, and to accompany the tape, he compiled a video, which featured footage of past Nirvana concerts. "Usually when something like this comes up, it just goes on the internet, and you know that's out there and people are sitting at home listening to it and [can] skip through it," Jenkins said. "But tonight was really about taking the time, listening to the music and experiencing what happened back in Calgary in 1991. And I think that's really special with the way it was set up … the speakers blasting and everyone enjoying." The concert's set list included: Love Buzz, Sliver, Dive, Floyd the Barber, Breed, Scoff, About a Girl, School, Swap Meet, Been a Son, Negative Creep, Blew, Lithium, Molly's Lips, Territorial Pissings, Spank Thru and possibly the last live performance of Mr. Moustache. The quality of the tape, heard in public for the first time at Thursday night's listening party, was way better than expected, said Arif Ansari of the Calgary Cassette Preservation Society, one of the party's sponsors. "It was a really, really great night. It was so fun to see the audience just going like bonkers over that." True to the spirit of Pay's original recording, Ansari manoeuvred through the crowd with a Dictaphone in hand, capturing people singing along to the 1991 bootleg. "Jay recorded the set on a Dictaphone like 34 years ago. So I'm like, well, what if I record 'Nirvana live at the Westward: Live at the Ship & Anchor' on a Dictaphone?" On a plain memory lane Mike Bell, author of the substack Sound Up YYC and former music reviewer for the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun, was at the now-famed concert. Nirvana performed at the Beltline venue mere months before releasing one of the best-selling albums of all-time, Nevermind. Though the show has now reached legend-status for many in Calgary, Bell said he didn't actually remember it as "anything spectacular," adding "it was just another rock show." I went to hundreds of [shows] at that time, be it at the Westward Club, be it at the Republic, the Night Gallery, all of those. And, you never know, right? You never know what's going to be big," Bell said. But then you see Nirvana and you go, 'Wow, you know what? I was pretty lucky to see that.'" In keeping with the promise that Pay had made to Kurt Cobain to never sell the tape, Jenkins and the organizers kept the event free for all to enjoy. The event was also a fundraiser for the Distress Centre Calgary and BAM! Camp Calgary. Come as you are Along with the folks who lived through Nirvana's prime, a younger generation of die-hard Nirvana fans also got to experience the show at Thursday's listening party. Ashton Terry wasn't even born yet when the Seattle band took the Westward Club stage, but he said he's been a fan since he was five, hearing Nirvana's songs through his father. He described the opportunity to hear the tape of them playing in Calgary as "just beautiful." "Of course, there's the rock aspect to it where you just want to, like, dance, you want to bob your head and all that," he said, after the party. "But if you think about it, like, you're seeing Kurt Cobain in his prime of passion, you know, before the fame got to him, before all the tours, all the money got to him. It was before he blew up. So you're seeing his true passion, the reason why he made the music he did." While Thursday's event was for folks over 21, the Ship & Anchor is hosting another listening party for the tape on Saturday, May 31, for all ages at 5:30 p.m.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Superfans gather to hear resurfaced tape of Nirvana's now-famed Calgary concert
Stacy Krisa was only a year old when Nirvana played Calgary's Westward Club 34 years ago, but on Thursday, she got to experience the next best thing: a listening party for a resurfaced bootleg tape from the now-famed show. "This is the best night of my life," she said, overcome with emotion. "Like actually, I'm not even kidding. I might cry because I love Nirvana so much. "Honestly, tonight felt like I was at an actual Nirvana concert." The tape, played at Calgary's Ship & Anchor pub, was recently uncovered by Nirvana super fan Mike Jenkins, first reported by CBC News. Jenkins found the tape at a Calgary collectors' show and learned it was a copy of the original. That tape was recorded on March 4, 1991, by Jason (Jay) Pay on his father's Dictaphone "I kind of stood at the back of the room and just watched everyone enjoy it, and I really didn't expect everyone to enjoy a bootleg so much," Jenkins said. He played a big part in organizing the event, and to accompany the tape, he compiled a video, which featured footage of past Nirvana concerts. "Usually when something like this comes up, it just goes on the internet, and you know that's out there and people are sitting at home listening to it and [can] skip through it," Jenkins said. "But tonight was really about taking the time, listening to the music and experiencing what happened back in Calgary in 1991. And I think that's really special with the way it was set up … the speakers blasting and everyone enjoying." The concert's set list included: Love Buzz, Sliver, Dive, Floyd the Barber, Breed, Scoff, About a Girl, School, Swap Meet,Been a Son, Negative Creep, Blew, Lithium, Molly's Lips, Territorial Pissings, Spank Thru and possibly the last live performance of Mr. Moustache. LISTEN | Jason (Jay) Pay talks about recording Nirvana at the Westward: The quality of the tape, heard in public for the first time at Thursday night's listening party, was way better than expected, said Arif Ansari of the Calgary Cassette Preservation Society, one of the party's sponsors. "It was a really, really great night. It was so fun to see the audience just going like bonkers over that." True to the spirit of Pay's original recording, Ansari manoeuvred through the crowd with a Dictaphone in hand, capturing people singing along to the 1991 bootleg. "Jay recorded the set on a Dictaphone like 34 years ago. So I'm like, well, what if I record 'Nirvana live at the Westward: Live at the Ship & Anchor' on a Dictaphone?" Mike Bell, author of the substack Sound Up YYC and former music reviewer for the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun, was at the now-famed concert. Nirvana performed at the Beltline venue mere months before releasing one of the best-selling albums of all-time, Nevermind. Though the show has now reached legend-status for many in Calgary, Bell said he didn't actually remember it as "anything spectacular," adding "it was just another rock show." I went to hundreds of [shows] at that time, be it at the Westward Club, be it at the Republic, the Night Gallery, all of those. And, you never know, right? You never know what's going to be big," Bell said. But then you see Nirvana and you go, 'Wow, you know what? I was pretty lucky to see that.'" In keeping with the promise that Pay had made to Kurt Cobain to never sell the tape, Jenkins and the organizers kept the event free for all to enjoy. The event was also a fundraiser for the Distress Centre Calgary and BAM! Camp Calgary. Along with the folks who lived through Nirvana's prime, a younger generation of die-hard Nirvana fans also got to experience the show at Thursday's listening party. Ashton Terry wasn't even born yet when the Seattle band took the Westward Club stage, but he said he's been a fan since he was five, hearing Nirvana's songs through his father. He described the opportunity to hear the tape of them playing in Calgary as "just beautiful." "Of course, there's the rock aspect to it where you just want to, like, dance, you want to bob your head and all that," he said, after the party. "But if you think about it, like, you're seeing Kurt Cobain in his prime of passion, you know, before the fame got to him, before all the tours, all the money got to him. It was before he blew up. So you're seeing his true passion, the reason why he made the music he did." While Thursday's event was for folks over 21, the Ship & Anchor is hosting another listening party for the tape on Saturday, May 31, for all ages at 5:30 p.m.
Cosmopolitan
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Aupen Review: I Tested Taylor Swift's Fave Bag Brand
When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. So when affordable luxury brand Aupen began popping up all over my social feeds, I initially dismissed it as targeted algorithm bait designed to separate me from my money. But then I saw Taylor Swift carrying the sculptural Nirvana on a date night with Travis Kelce. And then again to a wedding. And then Charlie XCX with the same bag but styled in her distinctly chaotic-cool way. Soon, it seemed like every celebrity stylist had discovered the same secret. More of my favorite style muses were spotted with Aupen bags on their arms, and I finally gave in and got my hands on a few. Now, everyone on my team's side of the Cosmo office has an Aupen bag hanging from their chair, too. Consider us officially influenced. Aupen's distinctive asymmetrical designs have become fashion's equivalent of a secret handshake—immediately recognizable to insiders while flying under the radar of mainstream luxury. They might not be as in-your-face as an all-over monogrammed bag or emblazoned with a flashy logo, but that's precisely why they've quietly dominated social media, red carpets, and even the wedding circuit, where they're now practically standard issue for stylish brides at after-parties. All this from a brand that's barely two and a half years old and started in the founder's grandmother's house. That's the kind of overnight success story most designers only dream about. When I caught up with founder Nick Tan in Paris to witness the brand's newest jewelry launch, I had to know the secret to Aupen's meteoric rise. But first… ICYMI: Aupen is a luxury brand known for its sculptural handbags and (recently launched!) jewelry. In just over two years, Aupen has rewritten the playbook for designer accessories. What began in founder Nick Tan's grandmother's Singapore home in November 2022 now counts Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez as devotees and boasts a coveted partnership with LVMH. "When Aupen first started, it was just me running around to different parts of the world to promote it while my grandma received the samples at home," Nick recalled sentimentally during our Paris meeting. I asked if she offered design feedback. "She's just like, 'whatever you do is perfect.'" And after experiencing the brand firsthand, I gotta say retweet. Nick's inspiration to start Aupen came from what he saw in the luxury market, but not in the way you'd expect. "When I looked at department store shelves, all the bags looked pretty similar," he explained. "I wanted to create something that would break away from traditional silhouettes," a goal that manifested in Aupen's now-signature asymmetrical designs. With such a clear vision for the products, I had to know if there was an equally defined vision of who would carry them. Who exactly is the Aupen woman? "She is a globetrotter. She embodies an understated elegance when she walks into a room. And I think she's very knowledgeable and well-read, but she doesn't necessarily try and chase the next TikTok trend," Nick told me. This philosophy of "understated elegance" is precisely what makes these bags so versatile. As he put it, "You want to have just one accessory where if you're wearing a basic outfit—a white T-shirt or blouse and just jeans—you can just pop it on, and it'll transform your look." Aupen has caught the attention of A-listers spanning wildly different style camps. In just over two years, the brand has amassed an impressive roster of celebrity fans that reads like a who's who of pop culture: Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Beyoncé, Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, Charli XCX, and Rachel Zegler have all been spotted with the sculptural bags. What's surprising? Most Aupen bags range from just $180 to $420—a fraction of what traditional luxury designer bags usually cost. Taylor Swift has been photographed multiple times with the black Nirvana bag, bringing it to Jack Antonoff's wedding events and on dates with Travis Kelce. Hailey Bieber has been spotted carrying the sleek Purpose bag on multiple occasions, including to her Rhode skincare launch party in London, while Lucy Liu recently paired the sparkling Nirvana Ice bag with Aupen's signature S-shaped statement earrings during her appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. With so many celebs giving Aupen their stamp of approval, we had to see for ourselves if these bags live up to the hype. The Cosmo shopping team got our hands on several of the brand's best-selling styles to put them through their paces in real life. Spoiler alert: There's a reason why Aupen is the new It-bag everyone's talking about—and below, we're giving you our unfiltered thoughts. SHOP AUPEN Meet your new little black bag (or LBB, if you will). The best-selling original Nirvana is a bag that's been spotted on everyone from Taylor Swift to Rachel Zegler. Senior Commerce Director Rachel Torgerson raves about the craftsmanship: "The quality and construction of this bag is very high. It holds its shape with nothing inside, the zipper glides very smoothly, and all the hardware has a luxurious weight and finish to it." Fair warning though—it's "not the most functional for day-to-day, especially being a Kindle girlie." But when it comes to evenings out? Pure magic. "This bag is perfect for a night out. It beautifully holds the essentials (wallet, keys, phone, lip gloss) and then some while still being able to close." The bottom line: This is the kind of bag that elevates every outfit it touches, even if it means leaving your novel at home sometimes. Worth it? Absolutely. The Nirvana Deluxe is the Nirvana that really gets it right. The Deluxe takes everything beloved about the original and supersizes it for real-world functionality without sacrificing that signature sculptural appeal. Take it from Rachel: "The black XL version of the bag fit my Kindle (rejoice!) and also features a taller shape that still feels unique, and therefore worth the price point!" For her, this bag checks all the boxes: "In order for me to buy a black handbag, the design really needs to feel special and also fulfill major functions. I think this bag delivered on that in a major way." The expanded size means you can finally carry your daily essentials, plus extras, without compromising on style or struggling with space constraints. It's the rare bag that works as hard as you do while looking like it's not even trying. Finally, the perfect summer bag. The Nirvana Crochet takes Aupen's beloved asymmetrical shape and gives it a raffia makeover that somehow manages to feel both laid-back and polished. Rachel is already plotting: "This is the kind of purse that makes you excited for the summer or vacation. I literally can't wait to wear it to my next tropical destination, where it would be the perfect little outfit completer for sunset dinners." What makes it work? "This honestly might be the perfect evening bag for warmer weather outfits, in that it goes with everything, can be dressed up or down, and is big enough to hold the must-haves (room key, wallet, phone) but small enough to still be dainty and not take up too much room in a suitcase," she explains. It's one of those rare pieces that actually delivers on the promise of effortless summer style—you know, the kind that looks like you just threw it on but somehow always works. Consider this the Nirvana's more practical sibling. The Buckle version swaps the original's braided handle for a sleek adjustable strap that actually works with your lifestyle. Wearing a chunky coat? No problem. Need to go hands-free while juggling coffee and your phone? This bag adapts. The streamlined design strips away the fuss while keeping all the sophistication that made the original a celebrity favorite. It's the kind of bag that slides seamlessly from weekend errands to dinner plans without missing a beat. The clean lines and premium leather construction mean it elevates even the most basic outfit—think elevated minimalism at its finest. If you've been eyeing Aupen but want something more functional than decorative, this is your entry point. It proves that sometimes the most understated option makes the biggest statement. Perfect for anyone who appreciates good design but needs their accessories to actually work for their busy life. "Not to be dramatic, but I've only had the Nirvana Chain bag for a few weeks and it's fully replaced my four-purse rotation!" says Cosmo's Associate Shopping Editor Meg Uy. "At this point, I grab it without thinking because it goes with literally everything." What makes it a closet staple? How versatile it is. "This bag just does it all! Whether it's errands, a coffee run, or a night out with friends, it's my ride-or-die when I'm only carrying the essentials (aka my cardholder, phone, multiple lip products (non-negotiable), AirPods, etc). It fits them all like a dream," Meg explains. The gold chain adds just enough edge without being flashy, and the convertible strap means you can switch from shoulder to crossbody in seconds. Meg's honest take? "As a shopping editor who's tried more bags than I can count, there are plenty of under-$100 options out there that pull off a similar vibe. But if you're on the hunt for something classic, made with quality materials, and versatile enough to wear with anything, this one delivers." It's the kind of investment piece that makes getting dressed effortless—and who doesn't want that? This textured take on the Nirvana brings that designer-quality feel without the flashy logos, and according to Cosmo's Shopping Editor Hannah Oh, "you wouldn't mix this up with a $25 dupe." She's impressed by the craftsmanship: "The bag doesn't collapse on itself, the zipper is smooth, the embellishments feel weighty," and notes that the pearl charm adds that "X-factor I'm always looking for in a purse." The asymmetrical shape takes some getting used to when filling it with things, but it fits all the dinner date essentials with room to spare. It's the kind of bag that's chic, different, and feels genuinely special. Kim Duong is the Deputy Shopping Director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing shopping coverage online for all things fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and sex. When she's not musing about which products are actually worth your hard-earned cash, she's also writing (sometimes slightly unhinged) fashion content in print. You can find her previous writing in Refinery29, InStyle, Travel + Leisure, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram for bottomless cute dog content and did-that-really-happen-to-me story times in her highlights.
